Know your risk for diabetes
Provided by the American Diabetes Association
'I don't have diabetes, but my mother did, and I know I don't want it.'
'My dad had diabetes for 10 years before it caused him to go blind.'
'I've had diabetes for five years. It's made me eat better and exercise more. I wish I had been doing that in the first place. It may have delayed my diagnosis.'
Diabetes is a deadly disease, and if it's not treated, it can lead to deadly complications, according to the American Diabetes Association.
Nearly 26 million Americans have diabetes, and 79 million more are at risk for diabetes. One out of five over the age of 65 has diabetes.
The association lists several things that raise your risk for diabetes. Some you can't change - such as family history - but some you can.
It's important to know your risk because you may be able to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes by making some small changes to how you eat and how much physical activity you get.
You could be at risk based on your:
• Family history
• Race or ethnicity
• Level of physical activity
• History of diabetes during pregnancy or giving birth to a baby weighing 9 pounds or greater.
Take the American Diabetes Association's Diabetes Risk Test at www.stopdiabetes.com to see if you're at risk for diabetes. To learn more, visit www.diabetes.org/startnow or call 1-800-DIABETES (342-2383).